ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe has "declared open season on all illegal foreign nationals" residing in SA as he says "we can no longer guarantee their safety".
This week Mabe came under fire after he called for political parties to take a stand against crime instead of calling for police minister Bheki Cele to resign.
The ruling party on Wednesday held a picket outside the Krugersdorp magistrate's court to oppose the bail application of a group of suspected illegal miners in the area.
Speaking outside the court, Mabe said foreign nationals who want to come to SA must do so legally, saying the country is not a “playground”.
“Once we display intolerance, we will also make our ability to fight this horrendous crime possible. For the police to be effective in discharging their responsibilities, they require communities to stand together,” he said.
“As the ANC said, we will stand on the protest line today to help reclaim our own sovereignty to make sure that the ANC can reassert, consolidate and reclaim its ability to lead society.
“SA is not a playground, it must be understood like that. We are a very serious country. Those who are foreign nationals and want to come to this country must do so legally. Foreign nationals who are in the country illegally have to be taken back home because we cannot afford crimes being committed by foreign nationals who are undocumented.”
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